"I'll be taking your bags now," Eda said calmly, stretching her arms forward.
"And I'll be taking your weapons," Rosemary followed, her voice equally polite yet firm.
Mama's Fangs hesitated, exchanging glances. Jax turned toward Alice for guidance. After a moment, Alice stepped forward, handing Rosemary her shotgun, pistol, and dagger. The others followed her lead, reluctantly surrendering their arms.
"The bath is at the end of the hall, to your right," the two maids said in unison, their mechanical precision unnerving. With bags and weapons in tow, they moved gracefully down the corridor.
Alice, Jax, Leo, and Rhea headed toward the bathing area, leaving Hana and Mika behind. As Eda and Rosemary turned to leave, Mika called out,
"Wait. I might need some bandages. My friend here's injured."
Hana tugged at her sleeve. "No, it's fine... really, I don't want to be a bother."
The two maids turned smoothly. "No worries," Eda said with a faint smile. "We can patch her up right away. Please, follow us."
Mika nodded and guided Hana after them.
Back at Haruka and Bai Shan
The sliding door shut behind them, sealing the night out. Silence filled the room.
"I nee—"
SLAP!
Haruka's face whipped to the side. The sting burned, but not nearly as much as the disappointment in Bai Shan's eyes.
"You… you disobeyed me," Shan said, his voice low but sharp enough to cut through the quiet.
Haruka's lips parted, but no words came. His body stayed frozen, one hand hovering over his cheek.
"You could've gotten yourself killed." Shan's voice cracked as he raised his hand again, but instead let it fall limply to his side. He turned his back, pacing across the tatami floor, his blue robes trailing behind him like shadows.
"Raito…" Shan's throat tightened. His steps faltered as tears welled in his eyes. "How? Did you see him—eye to eye?"
Haruka shook his head slowly, his voice hoarse. "He slashed the wall with his axe. The scar was… melting."
Shan's breath hitched. He steadied himself before asking, "And what did you feel from that scar?" His trembling hands wiped at his tears, though they kept coming.
Haruka lowered his gaze. The weight of memory pressed down on his chest. "Anger. Fury. Hatred." His katana slipped from his grip, clattering against the wooden floor as he sank to his knees.
Shan stopped pacing. Quietly, he knelt before the boy, pulling him into a tight embrace. For the first time in years, his voice softened.
"It's the girl… Evelyne. Raito cares for her. And by the sound of it…" Shan exhaled deeply, as if confirming a dreadful truth, "…it looks like his mask has evolved."
Haruka looked up, meeting Shan's tear-streaked eyes.
"Are you still willing," Shan asked, his tone suddenly hard again, "to bring Raito back to his senses—even if it means punching that sense into him?"
Haruka's jaw tightened. His voice was steady.
"Yes."
Shan's lips curved into the faintest of smiles. He patted Haruka's shoulder, then pulled away.
"Good," he said. "Because tomorrow morning… you'll go through a fraction of what Raito endured."
The night swallowed the rest of his words.
Later, the crew gathered around a long dining table, the bright lantern above casting warmth across a spread of steaming dishes. For a fleeting moment, it felt like home. Jax piled food onto his plate like a mountain, earning a sharp jab from Leo. The playful banter made the others laugh—just like old times.
But soon, the laughter died down.
"I just... I really hope Therma can be rebuilt," Jax muttered, sighing into his plate.
A faint slap echoed in the distance. Hana froze, her ears pricking. "What was that?" she asked, half-rising from her seat.
"Probably something falling," Mika said dismissively.
"Where's Haruka?" Hana pressed, scanning the room.
"I think that was him," Rhea said quietly, lifting a small bowl of rice.
"Probably... Look, Hana, sweetheart, everything's fine," Alice reassured. "He's probably just getting disciplined."
"Why would Haruka even come here in the first place?" Mika asked, puzzled.
"Obsidian," Leo answered flatly.
Their conversation cut off when the sound of footsteps approached. Haruka entered the hall, his face heavy with despair. He didn't meet anyone's eyes, only walked past in silence.
"Haruka?" Hana stood and stepped toward him. "What's wrong?"
He said nothing. He simply passed her, sliding the door to his room shut behind him, leaving Hana staring after him.
Mika joined her side. "What'd he say?"
"Nothing. He just... looked sad," Hana whispered.
Alice came forward, her tone softer than usual. "That's because he's carrying something heavy. His brother isn't the same anymore... and now he has to change too. Adapt or die. At least... that's how I see it."
She yawned, rubbing her eyes. "I'm going to bed."
As Alice reached her room, Mika stopped her. "One of those maids helped Hana earlier. The way she patched her up—it looked effortless. I think bringing Michael here... could be a good idea."
Alice studied her for a moment, then smiled faintly. "We just got here. But... I'll ask Shan tomorrow." She leaned down, pressed a soft kiss to Mika's forehead, and slipped into her room.
Later that night, the mansion quieted. Room after room went dark until the hall lay still.
But on the porch, Haruka sat awake, staring at the starless sky. His eyes shimmered with unspoken tears. The night's cold embrace wrapped around him until exhaustion pulled him into sleep.